Chand-led Maoists hurl bomb at moving bus, dozens injured

KAPILVASTU, Feb 20: Cadres of Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN Maoist on Tuesday hurled a petrol bomb at a moving bus along the East-West Highway near Khairanipur of Kapilvastu district for defying the general strike imposed by the party. As many as 12 passengers were injured in the attack, according to police. The bus was heading toward Dang from Kathmandu.

The party had enforced a general strike on Tuesday protesting against the arrest of its former ministers and cadres. After failing to impose the strike effectively, irked cadres of the party hurled the bomb targeting the passenger bus with registration number Na 5 Kha 7910 at around 3 pm. According to police, cadres of the party were hiding in the forest of Khairanipur along the highway.

Jhabindra Bhattarai, chief of Ward Police Office, Chandrauta informed that three passengers who sustained serious injuries have been taken to the Lumbini Zonal Hospital in Butwal while the others were treated at a local hospital.

Police have intensified search operation to nab the cadres involved in the attack. On Monday, Area Police Office, Pipara had held 11 cadres of Chand-led CPN Maoist while they were staging a torch procession on the eve of the general strike. Police had announced to release them on Tuesday evening.

Human Rights activists across the nation widely criticized the attack. "No matter which party it is, such kind of attack greatly violates human rights and raises questions about the safety of the citizens," said human right activist Rabi Thakur.
According to him, it is not right to trouble and torture innocent citizens in order to free the cadres of any party. He stressed that the parties should rather solve these kinds of problems through dialogue.

The strike imposed by the party affected normal life in Chandrauta, Imiliya, Gorusinghe, Bangai among other places. However, the district headquarters Taulihawa and other business hub seemed unaffected by the strike.